TWI513573B - Three dimensional printing apparatus and method for three dimensional printing - Google Patents

Description

Three-dimensional printing device and three-dimensional printing method

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method, and more particularly to a three-dimensional printing apparatus and a three-dimensional printing method.

With the rapid development of technology, traditional flat copying technology can no longer meet the needs of use. In view of this, many manufacturers are actively involved in the development and research of three-dimensional printing (or three-dimensional printing) technology. Due to the maturity of three-dimensional printing technology and its application, the three-dimensional molded products produced by three-dimensional printing technology have been greatly improved in terms of precision and strength, and gradually adopted by the manufacturing industry or industry, and become a new generation. Prospective manufacturing technology.

A common three-dimensional printing technique, such as a multi-layer manufacturing technique (also known as additive manufacturing), which takes a two-dimensional outline of a plurality of cut layers from a three-dimensional image file and stacks them layer by layer according to the two-dimensional data of each cut layer. The way to process the three-dimensional molded object. Generally, in the case of laminated manufacturing, the powder is first laid on the platform. Then, the platform moves relative to the light source according to the two-dimensional data of any layer, so that the light source projects The emitted light can illuminate the powder at different locations on the platform to form a two-dimensional patterned layer. However, during the movement of the platform relative to the light source, the powder laid on the platform may be scattered, so that the three-dimensional molded product after molding has defects such as insufficient density or strength.

The invention provides a three-dimensional printing device and a three-dimensional printing method, which can make the powder closely adhere to the working platform.

The invention provides a three-dimensional printing device, which comprises a working cavity, a working platform, a powder supply module, an electric field control module and a light source. The working platform, the electric field control module and the light source are disposed in the working cavity. The powder supply module is connected to the working cavity to provide charged powder to the working cavity. The electric field control module includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate is disposed on the working platform. The second electrode plate is opposite to the second electrode plate, wherein the first electrode plate is electrically opposite to the second electrode plate, and the charged powder is opposite in electrical polarity to the first electrode, so that the charged powder passes through the first electrode. The plate and the second electrode plate move toward the first electrode plate and are adsorbed on the first electrode plate. The light source provides light and is irradiated to the working platform and the first electrode plate, so that the charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate is irradiated with light to form a patterned sintered layer.

The invention provides a three-dimensional printing method comprising the following steps. First, the aforementioned three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided. Next, the powder supply module is used to supply the charged powder to the working chamber. Next, the electrical properties of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are opposite. An electric field is generated between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, wherein the charged powder is opposite in electrical polarity to the first electrode to receive the electric field when the charged powder passes between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The action moves toward the first electrode plate and is adsorbed on the first electrode plate. Thereafter, light is supplied from the light source and irradiated to the working platform and the first electrode plate, so that the charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate is irradiated with light to form a patterned sintered layer.

Based on the above, the three-dimensional printing apparatus and the three-dimensional printing method of the present invention can pass the first electrode plate and the second electrode by generating an electric field between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate disposed opposite to the first electrode plate. The charged powder between the plates can be closely adsorbed to the first electrode plate by the action of the aforementioned electric field. Thus, during the process in which the working platform moves relative to the light source according to the contour of the patterned sintered layer to be formed so that the charged powder forms a patterned sintered layer, the charged powder will not be easily detached from the first electrode plate and scattered. In the working chamber. In combination, the density and strength of the resulting patterned sintered layer can be effectively improved.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100‧‧‧3D printing device

101‧‧‧ cabinet

110‧‧‧Working chamber

120‧‧‧Working platform

130‧‧‧ powder supply module

131‧‧‧ Supply tank

132‧‧‧Powder supply unit

132a‧‧‧Nozzles

132b‧‧‧Neutral powder storage

133‧‧‧electrode probe

134‧‧‧High voltage power supply

140‧‧‧Electrical Control Module

141‧‧‧First electrode plate

142‧‧‧Second electrode plate

143‧‧‧Electric field control unit

150‧‧‧Light source

151‧‧‧Light

160‧‧‧Powder removal module

P1‧‧‧Neutral powder

P2‧‧‧ charged powder

P3‧‧‧ patterned sintered layer

1 is a schematic view of a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic structural view of the powder supply module and the working chamber of FIG. 1.

3 is a pattern of burning of the charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate of FIG. 2; Schematic diagram of the layer.

1 is a schematic view of a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic structural view of the powder supply module and the working chamber of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in the embodiment, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 includes a working cavity 110 , a working platform 120 , a powder supply module 130 , an electric field control module 140 , and a light source 150 , wherein the working cavity 110 The working cavity 110 is located in the housing 101 of the three-dimensional printing device 100, and the working cavity 110 is, for example, a housing for housing the working platform 120, the electric field control module 140, and the light source 150, or the working platform 120 and the electric field control module. The virtual space in which the light source 150 is located and 140 is not limited by the present invention.

The working platform 120, the electric field control module 140 and the light source 150 are disposed in the working cavity 110. The working platform 120 can be provided with a temperature control component (not shown) to control the temperature of the working platform 120. Here, the work platform 120 is, for example, a three-axis machining platform or a four-axis machining platform in which, in the case of a three-axis machining platform, it is adapted to move relative to the light source 150 along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in space. In terms of the four-axis machining platform, it can move not only along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in the space relative to the light source 150, but also on the X-axis and the Y-axis rotation axis in the space (also That is, the Z axis) rotates. In short, the work platform 120 of the present embodiment is suitable for processing a workpiece having a complicated structure, and can improve the processing rate and the machining accuracy.

The powder supply module 130 may include a supply tank 131, a powder supply unit 132, and an electrode probe 133, wherein the supply tank 131 is connected to the working chamber 110, and the powder is supplied The unit 132 may include a nozzle 132a and a neutral powder storage port 132b. Here, the nozzle 132a connects the supply tank 131 and the neutral powder storage crucible 132b, whereby the neutral powder P1 in the neutral powder storage crucible 132b is sprayed into the supply tank 131, and the neutral powder P1 continues. Moving toward the location of the working cavity 110. On the other hand, the electrode probe 133 extending into the supply tank 131 is electrically coupled, for example, to the high voltage power source 134, and the high voltage power source 134 is adapted to drive the electrode probe 133 to generate a high voltage electric field, so that the gas in the supply tank 131 is ionized. In the following, the gas is formed into a negative ion by a negative corona discharge. However, in other embodiments, the gas may be positively ionized by a positive corona discharge, which is not limited in the present invention.

In response to the above, during the movement of the neutral powder P1 toward the working chamber 110, the neutral powder P1 collides with the aforementioned negative ions to form a negatively charged charged powder P2. Here, the neutral powder P1 may include a dielectric material such as a ceramic powder or a polymer powder, wherein the dielectric constant of the ceramic powder is, for example, greater than 3 and high in a state where the temperature inside the casing 101 is 25 ° C. The dielectric constant of the molecular powder is, for example, between 2 and 10.

In this embodiment, the electric field control module 140 can be actuated together with the working platform 120. The electric field control module 140 includes a first electrode plate 141, a second electrode plate 142, and an electric field control unit 143, and the first electrode plate 141 For example, it is disposed on the work platform 120. The second electrode plate 142 is disposed opposite to the first electrode plate 141 to maintain a spacing, and the electric field control unit 143 is electrically coupled to the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142. In detail, the electric field control unit 143 can be used to modulate the electrical properties of the second electrode plate 142 and the first electrode plate 141 such that the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode The electrical properties of the plates 142 are opposite to each other to generate an electric field between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142.

Since the present embodiment is described by the negatively charged charged powder P2, the first electrode plate 141 can be positively charged by the electric field control unit 143, and the second electrode plate 142 can be negatively charged, whereby the negatively charged powder is charged. When the body P2 enters the working cavity 110 from the supply groove 131 and passes between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142, the negatively charged charged powder P2 can be moved toward the first electrode plate 141 by the action of the aforementioned electric field. And it is closely adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141. On the contrary, when the charged powder P2 is positively charged, the first electrode plate 141 can be negatively charged by the electric field control unit 143, and the second electrode plate 142 can be positively charged, so that the positively charged powder can also be charged. P2 moves toward the first electrode plate 141 while being passed between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142 and is closely adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141.

In detail, the electric field control unit 143 can be used not only to modulate the direction of the electric field between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142, but also to further control the electric field strength between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142. . Therefore, the electric field control unit 143 can increase the electric field strength between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142 such that the attraction between the charged powder P2 and the first electrode plate 141 is greater than that of the charged powder P2. The repulsive force between the respective charged particles ensures that the charged powder P2 can be closely adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141 without being scattered in the working cavity 110. On the other hand, depending on actual manufacturing requirements, the electric field strength between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142 can be modulated by the electric field control unit 143 to control the charged powder P2 adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141. thickness.

3 is a schematic view of the charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate of FIG. 2 to form a patterned sintered layer. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, after performing the pre-step of the three-dimensional printing method by the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100, the light source 151 (for example, a laser light) can be used to provide light 151 (for example, laser light) and irradiated to work. The stage 120 and the first electrode plate 141 are such that the charged powder P2 adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141 is irradiated with the light 151 to form the patterned sintered layer P3. Wherein, before the charging of the charged powder P2 into the working cavity 110, the control working platform 120 is preheated to the operating temperature through a temperature control element (not shown), which is between 100 ° C and 500 ° C. Thereby, after the charged powder P2 is adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141, the charged powder P2 is heated to approach its melting point, and then the charged powder P2 is heated by the light 151 to reach its melting point and sintered, thereby completing pattern sintering. Production of layer P3.

Generally, in the process of forming the patterned sintered layer P3, the working platform 120 moves relative to the light source 150 along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in the space according to the contour of the patterned sintered layer P3 to be formed. Even rotating according to the X axis and the Y axis's rotation axis (ie, the Z axis) perpendicular to the space. Since the charged powder P2 is closely adhered to the first electrode plate 141 through the action of the electric field between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142, during the operation of the working platform 120 relative to the light source 150, The charged powder P2 will not be easily detached from the first electrode plate 141 and scattered in the working cavity 110. In this way, the obtained patterned sintered layer P3 can be effectively improved in density and strength by the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 and the three-dimensional printing method.

On the other hand, the three-dimensional printing device 100 further includes a powder removing module 160. It is used to remove the unsintered charged powder P2 on the first electrode plate 141 after the patterned sintered layer P3 is formed. Since the unsintered charged powder P2 is adsorbed on the first electrode plate 141, the electric field between the first electrode plate 141 and the second electrode plate 142 is first turned off by the electric field control unit 143 to release the first electrode plate 141 and The attraction between the unsintered charged powder P2. Thereafter, the powder removing module 160 is used to recover the unsintered charged powder P2 by blowing or sucking, thereby continuing the production of the patterned sintered layer of the next layer. In short, by using the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 to repeatedly perform the manufacturing process of the three-dimensional printing method, a plurality of patterned sintered layers can be formed layer by layer to stack the three-dimensional shaped objects to be formed layer by layer.

In summary, the three-dimensional printing apparatus and the three-dimensional printing method of the present invention can generate an electric field between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate disposed opposite to the first electrode plate, so that the first electrode plate and the first electrode plate The charged powder between the two electrode plates can be closely adsorbed to the first electrode plate by the action of the aforementioned electric field. Thus, during the process in which the working platform moves relative to the light source according to the contour of the patterned sintered layer to be formed so that the charged powder forms a patterned sintered layer, the charged powder will not be easily detached from the first electrode plate and scattered. In the working chamber. In combination, the density and strength of the resulting patterned sintered layer can be effectively improved.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

110‧‧‧Working chamber

120‧‧‧Working platform

130‧‧‧ powder supply module

131‧‧‧ Supply tank

132‧‧‧Powder supply unit

132a‧‧‧Nozzles

132b‧‧‧Neutral powder storage

133‧‧‧electrode probe

134‧‧‧High voltage power supply

140‧‧‧Electrical Control Module

141‧‧‧First electrode plate

142‧‧‧Second electrode plate

143‧‧‧Electric field control unit

150‧‧‧Light source

151‧‧‧Light

160‧‧‧Powder removal module

P1‧‧‧Neutral powder

P2‧‧‧ charged powder

Claims (10)

A three-dimensional printing device comprises: a working cavity; a working platform disposed in the working cavity; a powder supply module connected to the working cavity for providing a charged powder body to the working cavity; An electric field control module is disposed in the working cavity, wherein the electric field control module comprises: a first electrode plate disposed on the working platform; and a second electrode plate disposed opposite to the first electrode plate, Wherein the first electrode plate is electrically opposite to the second electrode plate, and the charged powder is electrically opposite to the first electrode, so that the charged powder passes through the first electrode plate and the second electrode. Moving between the plates toward the first electrode plate and adsorbing on the first electrode plate; and a light source disposed in the working cavity, the light source providing a light and illuminating the working platform and the first electrode plate, The charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate is irradiated with the light to form a patterned sintered layer. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1, wherein the electric field control module further comprises: an electric field control unit electrically coupled to the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1, wherein the powder supply module comprises: a supply tank connected to the working chamber; a powder supply unit connected to the supply tank for providing a neutral powder into the supply tank; and an electrode probe extending into the supply tank so that The charged powder is formed by the neutral powder of the supply tank. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the neutral powder comprises a dielectric material. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1, further comprising: a powder removing module disposed in the working cavity for removing the unsintered charged powder. A three-dimensional printing method, comprising: providing a three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1; using the powder supply module to supply the charged powder to the working cavity; and the first electrode plate and the The second electrode plate is electrically opposite to each other, so that an electric field is generated between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, wherein the charged powder is electrically opposite to the first electrode to pass the charged powder. The first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are moved toward the first electrode plate by the electric field and adsorbed on the first electrode plate; and the light source is provided by the light source and irradiated to the working platform And the first electrode plate, wherein the charged powder adsorbed on the first electrode plate is irradiated with the light to form the patterned sintered layer. The three-dimensional printing method as described in claim 6 of the patent application further includes: And electrically controlling one of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate to be positively charged by an electric field control unit electrically coupled to the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, and the first electrode plate and the first electrode plate are The other of the second electrode plates is negatively charged. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 7, wherein after forming the patterned sintered layer, the method further comprises: closing the electric field between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate by using the electric field control unit And using a powder removal module to remove the unsintered charged powder. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 6, wherein before providing the charged powder to the working chamber, the method further comprises: providing a neutral powder to the powder by using a powder supply unit a supply tank of the supply unit; and a high voltage electric field generated by an electrode probe extending into the supply tank to form the charged powder through the neutral powder of the supply tank. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 6, wherein before providing the charged powder to the working chamber, the method further comprises: preheating the working platform to an operating temperature.